Red Sox have 4 prospects in ESPN top-100 list
By Sean Penney
Andrew Benintendi
Age: 21
Position: OF
Top Level: Class A
"“He’s a plus runner with above-average to plus power, and the early consensus on him in pro ball is that he will stay in center field, or at least won’t have to move, although Boston has a surfeit of legitimate plus defenders in center who could push a couple of qualified gloves to the corners,” writes Law. “He’s probably a 55 defender in center when it’s all said and done, an above-average runner with good instincts, a potential 20-homer, 20-steal guy at a position where, other than Mike Trout, that kind of player just doesn’t exist much anymore.”"
Boston’s first-round pick in last summer’s amateur draft is on the fast track to the big leagues. He’s a true five-tool player that will soon give the Red Sox another option to consider for their deep outfield.
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Jackie Bradley will enter the season in center field boasting the defensive skills to be among the best at his position. If he hits anywhere near the level we saw during his scorching August last year then he’ll lock down the position for years to come, which means Benintendi will have to settle for one of the corner spots.
The Red Sox appear to be set in the outfield for now, but questions remain regarding what Bradley and Rusney Castillo will produce at the plate. If either of them were to falter then it could open the door for Benintendi to force his way onto the roster ahead of schedule. Only Mookie Betts has the offensive upside that Benintendi projects to have among Red Sox outfielders, so if he continues to thrive at the minor league level then he could eventually move ahead of Bradley or Castillo on the organizational depth chart.
Of the four elite prospects on this list, Benintendi is the closest to being major league ready.
Next: Anderson Espinoza